Weekend in Numbers: Crystal Palace unlikely to derail Ranieri and it's crunch time for Arsenal

We're in the final stretch, folks. No more European ties or domestic cups to distract the title challengers. It's full steam ahead in the race for the Premier League.

So while Arsenal and Tottenham bow out of Europe with a whimper, Leicester look to continue their good Premier League form against strugglers Crystal Palace.

Crystal Palace unlikely to derail Leicester's title push

Claudio Ranieri pushed his side along on Monday night as Leicester squeezed by Newcastle at the King Power Stadium and his team really dug-in to secure the win.

They face Crystal Palace this weekend and the Foxes have failed to beat the Eagles in four of their last five meetings.

This, of course, doesn't hold a true reflection on the season at hand and Claudio Ranieri's side are unbeaten in their last four games.

Alan Pardew's men may have been buoyed by FA Cup success away to Reading but things are far from rosy in the league; they haven't won a match in their last 12 outings.

Leicester can extend their lead over Tottenham to eight points with a win and will look to complete a league double over Palace for the first time since 2010.

Shinji Okazaki scored the only goal of the game during Monday's win over Newcastle. Image: Joe Giddens / EMPICS Sport

Arsenal need victory to avoid battle for fourth

It's unfortunate to say but this has become familiar territory for Arsenal. They sit one point clear of Manchester City in third position just a month after a late Danny Welbeck goal had supposedly breathed new life into their title challenge.

Since then they've only managed to win one match in eight games in all competitions and this came against Hull in the FA Cup.

Take out the fact that two of these defeats came against parguably the best side in world football at the moment (Barcelona), defeat to Swansea and Manchester United as well as a draw with Tottenham have all but eliminated them from the race. They sit 11 points the the leaders with a game in hand.

Defeat at Goodison Park this Saturday lunchtime would leave them vying for a third place finish but the omens are good for Arsene Wenger's side.

Everton have only managed one victory over Arsenal in their last 18 attempts in all competitions, coming in the 2013/14 season where Roberto Martinez's side were 3-0 winners at Goodison Park.

The Toffee's have endured pretty inconsistent form as of late, their last league outing saw them concede a two-goal lead to lose 3-2 to West Ham.